Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42870412›Full record

ArticleJournal of rehabilitation medicine2026

Long-term effects of spinal cord stimulation combined with a physiotherapist-led exercise programme and physical activity on prescription for chronic neuropathic pain.

Raquel Gottfridsson, Emma Varkey, Kliment Gatzinsky, Helena Thörn, Mats Börjesson, Daniel Arvidsson, Sven-Egron Thörn, Axel Wolf, Paulin Andréll

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of rehabilitation medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Raquel GottfridssonDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden; Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. raquel.campanher.gottfridsson@gu.se.ORCID 0009-0001-1830-9917
Emma VarkeyDepartment of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden; Department of Health and Rehabilitation/Physiotherapy, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-1035-2734
Kliment GatzinskyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-8593-9273
Helena ThörnDepartment of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Halland Regional Hospital, Varberg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-3985-8368
Mats BörjessonDepartment of Medicine, Geriatrics and Emergency Care, Centre for Lifestyle Intervention, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden; Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-8786-0438
Daniel ArvidssonDepartment of Medicine, Geriatrics and Emergency Care, Centre for Lifestyle Intervention, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden; Department of Food and Nutrition and Sport Science, Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0003-2365-187X
Sven-Egron ThörnDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden; Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-7010-6757
Axel WolfDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden; Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Centre for Person-Centred Care, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Institute of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.ORCID 0000-0001-6111-8377
Paulin AndréllDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden; Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-6941-6096

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveAssess the effects of spinal cord stimulation and add-on physical activity interventions on pain, physical activity levels, and health-related quality of life.

designProspective single-arm. SUBJECTS/PATIENTS: 35 adults who underwent spinal cord stimulation device implantation for neuropathic pain completed the study.

methodsThree months after implantation, participants initiated a 6-month individualized physiotherapist-led exercise programme, followed by 12 months of physical activity on prescription. Neuropathic pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale, 0-10), physical activity (accelerometer), and health-related quality of life (EuroQol 5-dimensions, visual analogue scale, EQ-5D VAS; 0-100) were assessed at baseline and 3, 9, and 21 months after implantation.

resultsNeuropathic pain was reduced from baseline at 9 and 21 months (mean [SD] = 6.6 [1.7] at baseline; 4.8 [2.3] at 9 months, p = 0.003; 4.8 [2.1] at 21 months, p = 0.003). EQ-5D VAS scores increased significantly by 16 (p = 0.027) and 15 (p = 0.003) points at 9 and 21 months, respectively. No changes in physical activity were observed. Changes from 3 months were not statistically significant at 9 or 21 months for any outcomes.

conclusionThe initial effects of spinal cord stimulation on pain and health-related quality of life remained after the introduction of physical activity interventions, with no additional improvements observed beyond 3 months after implantation.

Indexed as

Chronic PainExerciseExercise TherapyNeuralgiaSpinal Cord StimulationAdultAgedCombined Modality TherapyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementPhysical TherapistsProspective StudiesQuality of Life

Identifiers

PMID42870412

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.